Friday, May 18, 2012

Boston Globe: Philip Moran & Karen Schneiderman

“Dying Wishes” in the April 29 Globe Magazine refers to “Death
with Dignity” instead of what it really is: “physician-assisted suicide.” As
stated by then chief justice William Rehnquist in the 1997 case of Washington v.
Glucksberg, “An examination of our Nation’s history, legal traditions, and
practices demonstrates that Anglo American common law has punished or otherwise
disapproved of assisted suicide for over 700 years.” He goes on to state that
there are at least five government interests to support that history. They are
prohibiting killing and preserving human life; preventing the serious public
health problem of suicide, especially among the young, the elderly, and those
suffering from untreated pain or depression; protecting the medical profession’s
integrity; protecting the poor, elderly, disabled, and persons in other
vulnerable groups from pressure to end their lives; and avoiding a possible
slide toward voluntary and even involuntary euthanasia. I submit these are more
than sufficient reasons to vote “No” on this ballot question.Philip D. Moran / Salem

With fear and rage I respond to the article “Dying Wishes.” A ballot
question? The idea of people voting on the worth of a human being is sickening,
but my greatest fear has to do with the notion that if a person chooses to
request assistance dying, that person is clearly depressed. During such
depression it is impossible to make a clear decision. We all have such periods,
sick or not, but almost always, with time or therapy or medication or support,
that feeling goes away. As a person with a lifelong disability, I have had
serious health crises and wished to terminate my life, but I have been fortunate
to have medical care and family and friends to help me through my struggles.
Those who are not so fortunate rely on the medical establishment. For those of
us with disabilities and for elderly folks, our value in this society is already
less significant, and we need to rely on physicians to help keep us alive,
rather than kill us in the name of compassion.Karen Schneiderman / Jamaica Plain